A Retrospective Study of the Change of the Nutritional Status in Stroke Patients

Lee, Be Na; Yoo, Soon Hee; Cho, Duk Won

Abstract

PURPOSE
We wanted to compare the nutritional status of stroke patients who are in the acute state with that of stroke patients who are in the chronic state and to evaluate the factors that may affect stroke patients' nutritional status in Korea.
METHODS
This is a retrospective study. We reviewed the medical histories of stroke patients who were hospitalized in St. Paul's hospital from January 2005 to February 2007. The applied measurements were the body mass index (BMI) and the biochemical findings such as albumin, the total lymphocyte count (TLC) and the hemoglobin level. We considered the factors that might affect the patient's nutritional status, including the patient's mobility, the mode of feeding, the type of medical insurance as an indicator of the socioeconomic status, diabetes mellitus, dysphagia and a medication for depression.
RESULTS
Thirty four males and 27 females were studied and the mean age of the patients was 60.13 years old. The mean follow up duration was 456.64 days. The BMI was decreased from 23.85 to 23.16 kg/m2 (P-value=0.049), the albumin was decreased from 4.09 to 3.88 g/dl (P-value=0.012) and the TLC was decreased from 2,056.6 to 1,772.3/L (P-value=0.034) in the chronic state. Specially, the nutritional imbalance was severe in the chronic patients who were undergoing tube feeding, in those who had poor mobility, in those who had dysphagia or those who were taking a medication for depression.
CONCLUSION
Control of stroke patients' nutritional state is crucial for a better outcome, not only at the acute stage but also at the chronic stage. Therefore, medical personnels should be aware of and care for the nutritional state of stroke patients.